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Monday, December 14, 2009

Coin Purse Keychains -- from a Dishtowel!!

I don't always have a particular project in mind when I head to the dollar store. I don't necessarily even have a project idea when I find materials! A couple weeks ago I found a dishtowel with the CUTEST little pictures on it. I had no idea exactly what I would be using it for, but I knew I would think of something -- so I bought it!

STEP ONE: One of the cute motifs I liked was awfully close to the edge of my dishtowel, so I picked the edge stitching open and pressed out the folds with my iron.

STEP TWO: Cut a front and back for your coin purse. You can make these any size -- just make it fit around your motif with enough room on the edges for 1/4" to 3/8" seam allowance.

STEP THREE:(Note: I'm switching coin purses from here on out!) Using your iron, press the top edge of your front and back pieces down (towards the back) twice. This will tuck away that raw edge and keep it free from your zipper.

STEP FOUR: Open your zipper and attach the front and back pieces to it. Line them up carefully to each other! Be sure to leave enough space between the teeth of the zipper and the edge of the fabric so that the zipper tab will pull freely without catching the fabric.

STEP FIVE: Zip your zipper shut and sew a wide zigzag at stitch length zero to create a zipper stop. You don't want to be zipping your zipper tab right off the end!

STEP SIX: Leave your zipper about 2/3 of the way open and sew around the three raw edges of your coin purse, using no less than a 1/4" seam allowance.

STEP SEVEN: Cut off the excess zipper, leaving the same seam allowance as the rest of your coin purse. (DON'T use your good sewing scissors!!)

STEP EIGHT: Sew a zigzag stitch around all the same edges, allowing the needle to stitch off the edge of the fabric on the right. This will help prevent most fraying.